INTACH offers foot massages for Srisailam devotees

Volunteers from the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) will offer foot massages to thousands of devotees trekking to the Srisailam shrine. This service, called "Pada Seva," will support pilgrims from Karnataka and Maharashtra during the Ugani celebrations. The camp will be set up at Nandikotkur to help relieve the discomfort of devotees who travel long distances, often between 500 and 700 kilometers. Many face harsh weather conditions and physical strain during their journey. M.V. Siva Kumar Reddy, convenor of INTACH’s Nandyal unit, emphasized the cultural importance of helping guests, saying, "Devotees endure severe heat and body pains. We want to provide some relief to them." The camp will open at 4 PM on March 21 and will run for four days. About 20 volunteers will assist each day, with special sessions planned for morning and evening to cope with the heat. The organization also plans to involve pharmacy and nursing students in the effort. In addition to foot massages, INTACH will organize a medical camp to distribute free medicines. They expect over 100,000 devotees to pass through the area, with plans to support around 25,000 to 30,000 people. These pilgrims often carry offerings from their farms, which will be presented to Goddess Bhramarambha during the Ugadi festivities from March 27 to March 31.